What is the significance of stage 3 hypertension?

Worse if higher: The consensus panels that assess best management of high blood pressure have traditionally "staged" blood pressure severity, with the higher numbers, the worse it is. Stage 3 (or now 2) high blood pressure conveys high risk of cardiovascular complications (heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney damage, peripheral arterial disease). Aggressive treatment is undoubtedly required.

See below: The esh-esc guidelines (2007)[49] and bhs IV (2004), [50] additionally define a third stage (stage iii hypertension) for people with systolic blood pressure exceeding 179 mmhg or a diastolic pressure over 109 mmhg very bad.